Five position lever switch



Feb 14, 1950 D. P. MossMAN FIVE POSITION LEVER SWITCH Filed April 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fell 14, 1950 D. P. MossMAN FIVE POSITION LEVER SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1945 Feb. 14, 1950 D. P. MOSSMAN 2,497,414

FIVE PGSITION LEVER SWITCH Patented Feb. l174, 195

TITJED v1S TATES PATE N T OFF IC E V21,497,414. FIVE POSITION LEVER SWITCH Donald P. Mossmain Chicago, Ill. Application April 2s, 19425 serial Nofssoso's The present invention rlatesftoswitches and --particularly -to lever "type switches wherein a yr'zluralli'ty of circuits are vl'iontrolled lby a single switch/lever, the "switchflever being arnultiple po'- sitio'n one Lw'itlloclilng 'action zin Vneutral position and Il'ocliin'go'r non-locking action in `other `posi-- 'tions' oflthe'leve'r. lPrimarily the 'present'invention concerns jit'sllf with providing a 'novel means whereby the single lever'can be used 'to -actu'a'te different sets of contacts ya'rci lock in 'any one Zoff more than "four positions or a `lesser number Ias "desir-ed. A

Y"It is also arpii'rpose 'of this vinvention, to pro'- -vide a *novel means "for vactuating the 'spring contacts A-wherr-:bfy the moving spring 'contact vis "pressed against the stationary Contact with a 'higher pressure 'immediately upon engagement -'of lthe 'contacts than can beobtained Abv -'spring imouiiting'thestationaiy contact. This cr'istru'ction provides also for la. more rapid 4and 'cleaner break of the moving spring 'Contact 'from the y'Stationary "contact upon movement 'of theiin'vn'g spring 'contact toward Aopen position. y

My J'invention Y'con-ternplates the provision in a switch v:or this .character 'a sturdy chassis 'or frarhe w'hich .'siliipots a plurality `of llat'c'h .plates tand 'spring ,actuated pistons. Each vpiston cair- 'ries "a 'rainer "for riding over 'notches provided the latch plate, ,and stops are set in the latch ip'l'a'te for engaging the frame and limiting the 'travel o'f the plates. Y'combine an actuating lever with :the plates. Fliese plates are posi- 'tioned ron opposite sides of the lever, and the lever Ais mounted Sfor movement yinto position lto .actuate `either fplate. The vtrarne construction provides means whereby the lever is guided in .such directions that only when it fin `ifieutral can the lever be shifted from one plate Ato vthe other.

l-t -is lalso .a purpose of ymy invention :to spro- .vide la novel -cover or mounting plate for a lever switch whereby the lever may be .limited in its positions land whereby it may be locked positively .against movement out of position. Thus a .normal multiple ,position vlever switch Jcan be made .fintofa positive locked switch that Vvrequires actuation Iof fa separate .lock-ing mechanism `before the lever can be moved -from a :selected position.

The natu-re and `advantages Vof my invention will appear more yfully `from the following de'- Vscription `and the accompanying drawings wherein a .preferred form of the invention is sshown. It .should 'be understood .however `that -the draw;

"l5, Y Y d li'n'g the parts in fcl-ianged position;

ings and description are illustrative only land 5,'5

should not be taken as limiting "the invention except :insofar fas iit 2is limited by the '-clairns.

In the drawings: Figui-fe ul :is `a plan View of a lever switch ein'- bedying -rn-y invention; l

lFig-u-re 2is a'view in side elevation of the switch Figure eisen end view ofthe switch; Y iFigure 'f4 Iis 'a sectional view 'taken yon the line Figure 1`5 iis an fen-larges fragmentary seccional view take'nfon #tlfeline 5-'-5"of Figure 1;

Fig-ure 6 is fafiraginentary sec-tional Iview taken on the lin'eBeJ of 'Figure 5; n

Fig-ure -7 ais a viewlsiniilr 'toFig'ure V4, biltfshow- #Figure 8 is y-a fragmentary View, pfr'tly 'inside elevation iend'rparly in-section dfasl-ighnyfmodif'e'd-f-orrrro'f the invention; y

VNFigures 110 and Illl are Ylike 'views illustrating iiv'o dilelnt face plates `tlflft are employed jin Aconnection with the construction Vshown in Fig- `-lires 8 'and yi9; land l n n .Figure 124519. View 'taken Ibn the une i12-:i2 of 4iguie -9 illustrating fa locking device for lock-ing Ithe 'sw-itch lever in :pre-determined position. A

Referring 'row to the vdravv'infgs Vand particularly to 'Figures l to 4 of the `Ydiawnings, iny invention :is Aembodied in la mltiple circuit lever A'type switch wherein the frame "l0 embodies Aa, U-Shap b'a'se il?! and 4tv'vo -S'd lf`1al`1`s |`2 and( `'3 which are 'secured to :the v'bitec 'lil by :suitable screws j`l4. The 'side pieces i2 Larid Vl3 are cross-connected by spacr bars I5 fand f6 4and 'an end Vbar Ijl to provide a `v`rigid positioning and `Sulp'l'ooriillg structure fior 'the operating .parts 'of the switch. The bars l`6 an-dil 'lfhav-'ea block lla of linsulation :between them which is secured Vby screws to pro'- -vide means for supporting fa plurality olf 'banks 1158, -I9 and 20 cffcontac't springs von leach side of the traine lil.- vThe-sreverfal banks of contacts are hel'd together in Ethe irsual -rnar'rner -by screws 2| fa'n'd are "spacd 'by "strips f22 of insulation. These lbanlrs of Contact springs have ytheir ycontacts 2i] welded or otherwise Vsecured thereto and they lalso have terminal ipc'irtions l2l. for attaching confduc'tors thereto. Between the 4iraf'rn'e 'piecs i? and 13 land the lsides 1il "In yand Ilb `of the base `I1 i .meant `a pair fof 1p1-aies 25 and 2s for rotation upon a shaft 2l that is supported in the side pieces lf2 and yl'3. The plates A*2.5 and 2'6 are 's'uitably ispaced 'on the shaft A2l by two spacing lsleeves 728 and 29 and by :a :strap 30 that encircl'es the shaft 21 between the pates 25 and ze. The plates 25 and 26 are notched as shown at 3l, 32 and 33 to provide stop positions for the plates and in order to hold the iplates in the stop ypositions I provide two pistons 34 and 35 with rollers 36 and 31 mounted in the ends of the pistons. As shown best in Figure 1 the pistons have their ends next to the plates 25 and 26 bifurcated and the rollers are set in these bifurcated ends so that the plates can -be received between the .bifurcated ends of the pistons where they engage the rollers. The pistons are essentially alike and comprise a tubular portion 38 receiving a spring 39. The tubular portion 38 is guided in the cross bars l and I6, and in order to adjust the tension of the spring 39 an adjustablerod 40 is threaded through the end cross piece l1 and extends down into the tubular rod 38. The rod 46 has a screw head 4l thereon so that it can be adjusted. A lock nut 42 is utilized to lock `the rod in the desired position.

The plate 25 carries contact spring actuating rollers on both sides of the plate. These rollers ,are shown at 43 and 44. There are two of the rollers 43 and two of the rollers 44. The plate 26 however, carries only two rollers on one side thereof, these rollers being indicated at 45, there being two rollers 45 spaced apart so as to be properly positioned to engage the movable contact springs. In the main form of the invention .there arestop pins 46vand 41 upon the plate 26 and similar pins 48 and 49 on the plate 25. These stop pins are so positioned as to engage depressed portions 50 and 5l of the frame base Il.

The strap 30 preferably is free to rotate on the shaft 21 and it has a nat V-shape bar 52 pivoted to it by means of a pivot pin 53. In order to provide suitable pressure to hold the bar 52 normally centered with respect to the plates 25 and 26 between the opposite ends of the strap 30 a spring 54 is provided. The ends of the spring engage the bar and the spring is wound around the pin 53 between the head thereof and the strap. The pin itself is threaded in the opposite part of the strap as shown in Figure 5. The V-shape bar 62 has a lever 55 xed thereto and the lever pro- `jects through a slot 56 in an escutcheon plate 51 that is mounted on the frame Il. The two plates 25 and 26 are provided with notches 25a and 26a in both of which the bar 52 is normally engaged. However, the bar 52 can be rocked by a lateral movement of the lever 55 so as to connect the lever'to either of the plates and effect a rocking motion of that plate while the other end is free from the bar and remains stationary, and thus cause its rollers to actuate the movable contact springs. If the plate 25 is rocked about the shaft 21 it will of course actuate the movable contact springs of both the banks I8 and the banks I9 by means of its rollers 43 and 44. On the other hand, if the plate 26 is actuated, it will operate only the movable springs of the banks 20. It is of course within the scope of this invention to provide more rollers on the plates 25 and 26 and additional banks of contacts on each side of the frame l0 if that is desired. The showing here is primarily to illustrate the basic construction and to demonstrate that the construction may be varied to a substantial degree to accommodate the construction to a specific problem of the user without in any way altering the basic design thereof.

By reference to Figure 3 of the drawings it will beobserved that the aperture 56 in the escutcheon plate 51 is so shaped as to provide Afour branches 58, 59, 66 and 6|. The four branches are joined at the center by a narrow neck portion 62 of the opening 56. The lever 55 extends through the opening 56 and has a reduced portion 55a that is small enough to clear the reduced neck 62 between the several branches of the opening 56.

If the operator desires to actuate the plate 25, he swings the lever 55 toward the left as shown in Figure 1 to bring it into alignment with the branches 58 and 59 of the opening 56. This movement likewise brings the bar 52 into the slot 25a of the plate 25. The lever can then be moved up or down to actuate the contact springs by means of the rollers 43 and 44. The extent of the branches 53 and 55 is sufficient to effect movement of the plate 25 far enough to cause the roller 36 to pass from the central notch 32 into one of the notches 3i or 33. This will lock the lever 55 in position against return movement because the force of the spring 39 is sufficient to make it necessary to apply pressure to the lever 55 in order to move the plate 25. By moving the lever to the right as shown in Figure l the bar 52 can be engaged with the slot 26a in the plate 26 and the lever is positioned to operate in the branches 60 and 6l of the opening 56. There is a neutral position of the lever 55 when its reduced part 55a is located in the vneck 62 of the opening 56. It is preferable to provide a suitable means, such as extensions 63 and 64 on the spring 54 to engage the` bar 52 and hold it in the neutral position. In this position the rollers 36 and 31 of the pistons 34 and 35 engage the central notches 32 of the plates 25 and 26 so that all of the contacts are in normal neutral position.

When the lever 55 is moved out of neutral position to right or left, it positions the bar 52 to actuate one of the plates 25 or'26. One actuated position of the plate 26 is shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. In this figure the stop pin 46 is moved up into position to engage the part 5l of the frame. One of the rollers 45 is engaged with a movable contact spring 20a of the associated bank contacts so as to engage the contacts 23 thereon with the contacts of a stationary contact springZllb` of the same bank. By moving the lever 55 in the direction of the arrow shown on Figure '1 of the drawings'from the branch 60 of the openings 56 to the branch 6l thereof the plate 26 will be shifted to bring the other roller` 45 mounted thereon against the movable contact spring 20c of the bank 20. This movable contact spring 26e is operatively engaged with-a second movable contact spring 26d by the usual spacer 65 so that two sets of contacts may be actuated by vtheone roller engaging one ofV the contact springs. l

In Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings I have shown a novel. feature of the contact spring mounting which is particularly advantageoustin obtaining proper pressure between contacts immediately when they are brought together and in obtaining a clean break when thecontacts are separated. The stationary contact springs are identified throughout by the numeral 25h.. Associated with each of these contacts is a backup spring 66 that is mounted by the same means that mounts the other springs. This back-up spring bears against its associated contact spring 26h so as to place the spring 26h in tension. Now .when a movable contact spring, such as 26a, 20c, or 20d is moved into positonlto engage the contact carried thereby with the contact on the stationary spring, there Vis an immediate high pressure between the contacts with a very little Bim/,ele

sociated contact. carrvinaspr-ng. softnat iii-.placing the Contactspringin `tensionfthe back-up springis moved very slightly outofpits tension l.

free position. Thisccnstrnetien makeslitpossibleto use va Contact.l spring that will vgive :the

.desir-edpressure -initaliy uponfensagemcnt with the moving Contact, but which will not goverload the moving contact duegto the travel necessary forlthe operation of the detent@A mechanism in the switch. IIn breaking of the contact byfreturn of the movable contact springgtomormal resting position, the .stationary AContact spring isstoppedmore,suddenly than would be theoase without the back-up spring 56 and a better break v,of the circuit ,isobtained Y,Referringnow to Figures 8 to l2inclusive, I

show a, modification `of the` construction which sinjlplifies the adaptation ,of the-.switch to'various conditions where the` number of positionsfor .the switch may vary over ,-a-wide range. l'or-example: it may be desirable to have the switch occupy ve positions where itis held inany one of the five positions by virtue of the detent mechanism. AAgain it may be desirable to have the switch operate one oi the plates 26 to two lock positions where the detent mechanism holds the lever in the two positions, vand it may be desirable vtohave the other plateoperated by the lever to .apair-of hold positions where the detent mechanism will not `retainthe lever inthe operated position, but will return it if it is released, thus making it-necessary Lforthe operator to hold the switch lever in actuated position for as long as the operation isrtobecontinued vIn certain instances it is also desirable to be able to lock the lever lso that it'cannot be-moved byaccidenteven though a strong force capable yof overcoming the detent lock be applied to the lever. The features shown in Figures 8 to 12 takecare of the above mentioned conditions. `The modified form of the invention embodies a frame 61 of-,U-,shapetowhich two side frames 68 and 69 are secured. A shaft l0 is mounted in theframe 6l and extends into the sidepieces 68 and 69. The shaft carries two plates 25 and 26", similar in all respects to the plates '25 and 26. The plates 25 and 25 are operated by a bar 52' and a lever 55 in the same manner as in the preferred form of the invention. The plates carry rollers 43 and 45 respectively for engagement with movable contact springs 'l0 and 1l' that cooperate with stationary contact springs 12 and I3 in essentially the same manner as in the preferred form of the invention. The plates 25 and 26 are notched and cooperate with pistons 34 and 35 to lock the plates 25 and 26 in the several positions just as in the main form of the invention.

The frame 61 has a relatively large rectangular opening 14 therein. This opening is covered by a mounting plate 'l5 which is fastened to the frame i4 by a plurality of screws 16. The plate 'l5 is also apertured as indicated at 'l1 beyond the extent of the frame 61 so that the apertures 'l1 may be utilized as a means for mounting the switch on a panel. In the plate 15 shown in Figure ll there is provided a lever guiding opening 'i8 which has four branches 19, 80, 8|, and 82. The branches are interconnected by a narrow neck portion 83 in which the reduced part of the lever 55' can rest when the switch is in neutral position. The mounting plate in this case provides the same guiding characteristics 6 ,that are Lprovided in-:theropening 5.6 cof the frst form ofthe invention. However,inzthisaiormf/of .the invention Lthe v,branches VrI9 'to v8 2 inclusive function 4also `as the means of stopping forlimiting-the movement of A plates 25.

-When itis desired to limitthe `positions :of either -ofgthe plates 25' or ',26; -lasffor example, to a neutral position or one jor two nonflocked positions,the only change necessary; is to lplace a small blocking ,plateilZ--beneath the mounting plate l5 and fasten it by the same screwsto the frame :1;4. "Figure 1,0 illustrates a pair of the Ablocking plates 92 in place to shorten the branches 19 and B2, The branches 1f9,andf821arfe shortened so as to stop the lever 55 short-of locked position, that is, in a position wherepthe roller on the piston 34 hasnot passed overthe raised Apoint of the plate 25' into the locking notch that would retain the plate in position. Thusif the operator-would release the lever 5.5', it would return to neutral position. It .will be evidentthat various larrangements of the blocking plates 92 may be employed to obtain theides ired locking and non-locking features in ,a switch whichis otherwise standard.

l.In .Figures 9 and l2 I yshow va further 4modification wherein I providemeans in the form ,of a ,hinged latch plate :84 on the mounting or escutcheonplate l5. Theplate :84 is secured :by a hinge 85to the plate 1,5and itextends lacross `the v,plate y'l5 in position to cover .all but the outer Vportions of the branches 19, 80,78! and 82 jof .the .opening i8. A lock or latch device is indicated on Figures 9 and 12. This latchldevice lconstitutes a rpost 85 thatpismounted on the plate J5-and thatextends through an opening 8l ,in thehinged plate 84. The post 86has an opening 88 vthat receives va pin 89, and the pin .SS has ahead 9|) thereon which may be fastened by a ,chain Si to the .plate 1.5.

From the `:foregoing description it isbelieved 4that the nature and advantages of m-yinvention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A switch of the characterdescribed comprising .a supporting framework, movable and stationary contactsmounted thereon, a pairfof members pivotedinsaid framework andhaving means thcreonoperable by pivotal movementof said members to move the movable contacts with respect to the stationary contacts, an actuating lever, means on said lever operatively connected in one position of the lever to both members and locking the members against movement but movable by shifting of the lever to and fro to establish, alternatively, an operative connection with either one of said members to the exclusion of the other, resilient means opposing shifting of said lever from the position where it is connected to both members, said lever being shiftable in another direction when in operative connection with only one of said members to eiect turning movement of that member and means on the framework preventing movement of said lever in said other direction while the means on said lever is connected to both of said members.

2. A switch operating mechanism comprising a framework, a pair of spaced contact actuating members pivoted in said framework, each actuating member being movable from a central neutral position in either direction about its pivot to another position for contact actuation, detent means operable to hold each actuating member in any of its three positions, a hand lever, a mounting for said lever in the framework betwnth contact actuating members mounting the lever for movement toward either member, and for rotation between the members, spring means opposing movement of said lever toward either member, interengaging means on said lever and members normally connecting the lever to both members but operable to disengage the lever from one member when the lever is moved against the opposition of said spring means toward the other member whereby to move either member by rotation of the lever, and a guide means on said framework preventing rotation of the lever except when it is moved to limiting position toward one or the other of said members, said guide means comprising an H-shaped slot through which the lever extends and a lock plate hinged on said framework and movable over said slot to lock the lever in any one of the four ends of said slot.

` 3. A switch operating mechanism comprising a framework, a pair of spaced contact actuating members pivoted in said framework, each actuating member being movable from a central neutral position in either direction about its pivot to another position for contact actuation, detent means operable to hold each actuating member in any of its three positions, a hand lever, a mounting for said lever in the framework between the contact actuating members mounting the lever for movement toward either member, and for rotation between the members, interengaging means on said lever and members normally connecting the lever to both members but operable to disengage the lever from one member when the lever is moved toward the other member whereby to move either member by rotation of the lever, and a guide means on said framework preventing rotation of the lever except when it is moved to limiting position toward one or the other of said members, said guide means comprising an H-shaped slot through which the lever extends, one of the leg portions of said slot being shortened to prevent movement of one actuating member by the lever to one of said positions.

4. A switch of the character described comprising a supporting framework, banks of contact springs having contacts thereon including movable and stationary contact springs mounted on the frame in spaced relation,- c'ontact tu-Y ating means mounted in the framework operable' to force the movable contact springs toward the stationary springs and thereby move both springs in one direction, a stationary spring stop operable to limit the reverse movement of the stationary spring, said stop comprising a relatively stiff bar between the stationary and movable springs and spaced therefrom except at its tip end, the tip end being pressed against the stationary spring whereby to partially tension said stationary spring when it is not engaged by the movable contact.

5. A switch operating mechanism comprising a framework including an U-shaped base, a pivot pin extending across the base, a pair of spaced contact actuating plates pivoted on said pin, each plate being movable from a central neutral position in either direction about its pivot to another position for contact actuation, a detent means cooperating with each plate to hold it in any of its three positions, a hand lever, mounting means for said lever pivotally mounted on said pin between the plates, said lever being pivoted on its mounting means for rocking movement toward either plate, interengaging means on the lever and plates normally connecting the lever to both plates, but adapted upon movement of the lever toward one plate to release the lever from the other plate, and means on the frame preventing rotation of the lever about the pivot pin when it is engaged with both plates.

DONALD P. MOSSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,693,635 Chandler Dec. 4, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,644 Great Britain Jan. 29, 1934 583,709 Germany Sept. 8, 1933 

